Regardless of what Dems do Wednesday, Leo stands with Kothari and Piatkowski

Although Republicans rumble about the party swapping out one or both of its District 19 candidates depending on the outcome of Wednesday night's special Democratic convention, Middlesex County Republican Chairman Joe Leo said it won't happpen.

"Peter Kothari and Richard Piatkowski are our candidates," said the chairman. "They have the nomination of our party and they will run until the end, and we will win in the 19th District."

Kothari, a Woodbridge businessman, confirmed to PolitickerNJ.com that he had heard talk in the party that he may be gone, jettisoned in favor of a Latino candidate in the event that retired Superior Court Judge Mathias Rodriguez of Perth Amboy loses Wednesday night at the special to either retired Municipal Court Judge Craig Coughlin of Woodbridge or long shot health care professional Jean Pierce, also of Woodbridge.

Kothari said he could depart without bitterness if his exit meant the addition to the ticket of someone who can help Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie defeat incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine.

But Leo believes Kothari's the man - and moreover so is Piatkowski, in the chairman's opinion.

A real estate broker from Perth Amboy, Piatkowski said he does not intend to step aside for a substitute and also said there is no reason Kothari should back down.

This week, Leo stood with the candidates.

"The fact that the state GOP has not put money in here yet doesn't mean anything," said the chairman. "They haven't put any money into any of the campaigns yet - it's still pre-Labor Day."

Piatkowski noted that the coordinated Republican campaign promised to use his and Kothari's names on ten Christie mail pieces to be distributed in the coming weeks, which would be a definite boost, he said. 

"But actual cash coming in would be nice," said the candidate. "The promise of the money coming I take with a grain of salt because we've been hearing that for years, and it never does."